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Lucas

Looking out the window of my room, the lights off and the area quiet, I wonder how Kaylee is doing. After I’d announced to her that she was pregnant, Kaylee kicked me out of her cottage, saying she needed time and space to think about it. That was three hours ago. In these last three hours, I have done nothing but sit in my room, worrying about her.

I know Kaylee wants to be a mother and have a big family after living as an only child, but I also know she’s terrified. I can feel her fear through the mate bond—feel her worrying about this news. I hate that I can’t be there to hold her and help her through it, but this is Kaylee’s decision. It’s her body and her choice.

I can’t change her mind if she decides she isn’t ready to be a mother. As much as I want our pup, I can’t force her to stay pregnant just for my selfish needs. I’d already been selfish once and rejected her for the safety of a pack that didn’t really care for me. I won’t make that mistake again.

[Lucas?] The link opens, and her voice tentatively reaches out. I sigh with relief, happy to hear from her.

[I’m here, Kaylee,] I answer, feeling her relief through the link.

[Would you hate me if I got rid of it?] Kaylee asks with a quiet voice. Her question throws me off guard, but I can tell by how the bond wavers that this isn’t Kaylee’s final decision.

[No, baby girl, I wouldn’t hate you. I know what you went through to cause us to make this pup,] I hurriedly answer, not wanting her to feel pressured to choose. [Whatever you decide, I support it,] I continue while walking to my bed and taking a seat on the edge.

Silence follows my statement, and I wait patiently to see what Kaylee says next. I don’t have to wait too long—the link hums once more inside my mind.

[Thank you. I needed to hear that,] she responds with relief.

[Have you decided what to do then?] I can’t help but ask, closing my eyes and praying that she gives me the chance to be a father to my pup—to be the father that Ramos never was to me.

[Not yet. When I do, I will let you know.]

With her answer, Kaylee closes the link, and I’m left sitting in the quiet, alone again. The only thing comforting me is the love she already has for our unborn pup, filling our mate bond. Maybe, just maybe, she will choose to keep our pup. If that happens, I know I must become better and stronger to protect them.

Bounding off the bed, I grab my workout bag and make my way out of my room and toward the elevator. I’ll need to train as much as possible when not on patrol or working around the pack to get stronger for the family I hope to have.

The elevator opens to reveal Kurt, and we stare at each other in shock.

“I was just about to come to see you, Lucas,” he states, holding the elevator door open and allowing me to step inside. I press the button for the ground floor before turning to answer him.

“I’m guessing it’s about what happened in the training room with Kaylee,” I respond, and Kurt nods.

“Everyone said you came in fuming for some reason and took Kaylee without her consent,” he says, sighing, and leans against the elevator wall. “Is everything all right?”

I groan, running a hand over my face and noticing how the scars feel against my skin. They seem to have healed much more since the bond snapped back into place.

“Short answer—no. Long answer—it’s complicated,” I answer. I have a feeling Kaylee doesn’t want anyone to know what’s happening, so I decided to keep everything vague. Until she comes to a decision about our pup, I won’t say anything.

“Care to elaborate?” Kurt questions, his brow raised as he crosses his arms.

“Not really. It’s something Kaylee and I need to sort out privately.”

The elevator doors open just in time, and I quickly bolt towards the exit of the dormitories. I can hear Kurt muttering behind me, but I ignore him. I know he means well and cares for Kaylee and me, but some things just can’t be said right now, and I hope he understands.

Wolves watch me as I exit the dorms, some giving me apprehensive looks. Some of them were there when I barged in and carried Kaylee away. It’s reasonable to assume the whole pack knows about the incident by now.

My steps falter, and I wave, giving them what I hope is a friendly smile. I’ll have to explain to everyone later that the mate bond caused me to become overprotective of Kaylee and that I lost control of my emotions. I’m sure they’ll understand and accept my apology.

When they wave back, I continue walking toward the training facility, the cool wind brushing past me. It’s almost the middle of August now, and fall should be here soon. That means the pack will need to start stocking up on firewood, which could give me a good way to train.

“Lucas!”

Turning at the sound of my name, I find Marco approaching me. His face is set in a disapproving frown, and I sigh. It seems I’m in for another talk.

“Did you carry Kaylee out of the training ring earlier?” he demands, his voice laced with anger.

“I did,” I answer, trying to stay as calm as possible in front of my rival.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because our mate bond reached out for me, telling me Kaylee was in danger,” I reply.

Marco steps back in shock, hurt crossing his eyes before he masks it.

“That’s a lie. There’s no way your mate bond could be that strong after you rejected her,” he scoffs, and it takes everything in me to suppress a growl. Marco is my superior. Growling at him would end badly for me.

“Whether you believe it or not is your decision,” I snapped, stepping away from the red-headed wolf. “You can ask Kaylee about it, though, and she’ll tell you the same thing.”

I decide that I need to walk away before Marco and I get into a fight. Marco must sense that he’s getting under my skin, and he allows me to walk away without another word. I know he’ll go to Kaylee’s cottage next to confirm things with her, and I’m fine with that.

The mate bond is whole again, and there is nothing Marco can do now—unless Kaylee is the one to reject me this time. I won’t be making the same mistake twice.

Pushing the doors to the training facility open, I feel all eyes turning towards me. I pause inside the doorway, feeling the unease in the air. It seems I left a bad impression the last time I was here.

“Well, well, well, look who came back.”

Turning to the person approaching me, I chuckle when I see Simon coming to my side.

“Kaylee sent me a link. Did the bond really call out to you?” he continues, making me grimace.

“Yeah, it did,” I admit, motioning for Simon to follow me to the changing rooms.

“Well, I am glad to see you’re no longer a pissed-off jackass. Do you need a sparring partner?”

“I do, actually. Care to get your ass whooped?” I banter, and he growls playfully.

“You’re on, Lucas,” Simon agrees before leaving the changing room. I laugh as I throw on my workout clothes and follow him outside. I’m glad Simon isn’t mad at me, considering the person the bond had called dangerous at that moment was his mate.